Local doctor honored for providing health screenings to the uninsured

 Dr. Tushar Patel Dr. Tushar Patel SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Dr. Tushar B. Patel has been honored for offering volunteer medical services to the community over the past 15 years.

The South Brunswick resident received the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service, presented by PNC Bank, on June 8 at the Newark Museum. He was awarded with Becton, Dickinson and Co.’s BD Health Care award in the professional category for his public service in New Jersey.

Patel has served since 1999 at the nonprofit Indian Health Camp of New Jersey, and at many other religious and community organizations, providing basic health screening and disease prevention throughout the state.

More than 7,000 documented health screenings were given to uninsured or underinsured New Jersey residents under his leadership and with the help of other volunteers and committee members. The objective is early diagnosis and intervention in an effort to avoid long-term complications and reduce the financial and emotional burden on the families and community.

Patel was also selected as one of the 2015 Healthcare Heroes Finalists from NJBIZ. The awards ceremony will be held on June 23 at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset.